Sec. 09.11.02.01. Relations to the Public

A. The licensee shall remain informed of matters affecting real estate in the community, the State, and the nation.

B. The licensee shall be informed on current market conditions in order to be in a position to advise clients as to the fair market price.

C. The licensee shall protect the public against fraud, misrepresentation, or unethical practices in the real estate field. The licensee shall endeavor to eliminate in the community any practices which could be damaging to the public or to the dignity and integrity of the real estate profession. The licensee shall assist the commission charged with regulating the practices of brokers, associate brokers, and salespersons in this State.

D. The licensee shall make a reasonable effort to ascertain all material facts concerning every property for which the licensee accepts the agency, in order to fulfill the obligation to avoid error, exaggeration, misrepresentation, or concealment of material facts.

E. The licensee, acting as agent, may not discriminate in the sale, rental, leasing, trading, or transferring of property to any person or group of persons in violation of State Government Article, §20-402, Annotated Code of Maryland.

F. The licensee may not be a party to the naming of a false consideration in any document.

G. Advertisement.

(1) The licensee in advertising shall be especially careful to present a true picture. A broker may not advertise without disclosing the broker's name or the company name as it appears on the license. A broker may not permit associate brokers or salespersons to use individual names unless the connection with the broker is obvious in the advertisement.

(2) Effective October 1, 2004, an associate broker or salesperson may not use an individual telephone number or email address in an advertisement, as defined in Business Occupations and Professions Article, §17-527.2(a)(3), Annotated Code of Maryland, unless the identified telephone number of the broker or branch office manager also appears in the advertisement.

H. For the protection of all parties with whom the licensee deals, the licensee shall see to it that financial obligations and commitments regarding real estate transactions are in writing, expressing the exact agreement of the parties, and that copies of these agreements are placed in the hands of all parties involved within a reasonable time after the agreements are executed.

I. All real estate documents shall be signed by a licensee in the licensee's own name, and may not be signed in the name of a group or team.